A26701:69
The way to true happiness in a serious treatise /
The way to true happiness in a serious treatise / by Joseph Alleine.
London : Printed and are to be sold by Nevil Simmons, 1678
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Mr. JOSEPH ALLEINE'S CALL TO THE UNCONVERTED.
Dearly Beloved, and longed for, I gladly acknowledge my self a debtor to you all, and am concerned, as I would be found a good steward to the Household of God, to give to every one his Portion. But the Physician is most solicitous for those Patients, whose case is most doubtful and hazardous, and the Fathers bowels are especially turned towards his dying child. The numbers of the unconverted souls among you, call for my most earnest compassions, and hasty diligence to pluck them out of the burning, Jud. 23. and therefore to these first I shall apply my self in these lines.
DEarly Beloved, and longed for, I gladly acknowledge my self a debtor to you all, and am concerned, as I would be found a good steward to the Houshold of God, to give to every one his Portion. But the Physician is most solicitous for those Patients, whose case is most doubtful and hazardous, and the Fathers bowels are especially turned towards his dying child. The numbers of the unconverted souls among you, call for my most earnest compassions, and hasty diligence to pluck them out of the burning, Iud. 23. and therefore to these first I shall apply my self in these lines.
But whence shall I fetch my arguments, or how shall I choose my words? Lord, wherewith shall I woo them? whereby shall I win them? Oh that I could but tell! I would write unto them in tears, I would weep out every argument, I would empty my veins for Ink, I would petition them on my knees; verily ⟨p. 2⟩(were I able) I would, (O how thankfully I would!) if they would be prevailed with to repent and turn.